Register Now

In order to be able to post messages on the German Shepherd Dog Forums forums, you must first register.
Please enter your desired user name, your email address and other required details in the form below.

User Name:

Password

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Password:

Confirm Password:

Email Address

Please enter a valid email address for yourself.

Email Address:

Security Question

While balancing on a piece of wood, two inches by four inches known as a 2x4, john and his friend sally both spotted a dalmatian inside a truck with sirens, headed to put out a fire. State what the 2x4 is made of.

Log-in

User Name

Remember Me?

Password

Human Verification

In order to verify that you are a human and not a spam bot, please enter the answer into the following box below based on the instructions contained in the graphic.

Additional Options

Miscellaneous Options

Automatically parse links in text

Automatically embed media (requires automatic parsing of links in text to be on).

Automatically retrieve titles from external links

Topic Review (Newest First)

07-30-2014 10:31 AM

kiya

I have Trupanion for Lakota. She tested positive for Lyme's & erlichia in May. Just for the record I sent the vet bill to Trupanion figuring it needs to be in her file. They sent a questionnaire to my vet. I was also asked if I followed recommended flea/tick preventative I said I use the Seresto flea/tick collar. They also asked if I gave her the Lyme vaccine, which she actually did get last year or maybe the year before I also said there is no erlichia vaccine. Anyway I had to take Lakota in for 3yr rabies last night and my vet said she didn't send back the questionnaire because she needed to do an actual exam. Fine no problem. Then she brought up annual vaccines which I told her Trupanion said if I don't get annual vaccines those diseases will not be covered, fine.
I am disappointed I kind of got a little attitude from my vet about the vaccines but Lakota is 4-1/2 now she had all puppy, 1 year boosters that's it for her.
Trupanion did send me notice that a percent was put to my deductible.
I am not worried about the little things but if something serious happened I'm hoping they pay when it really counts.

07-29-2014 09:01 PM

kr16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax08

It could show the formation of arthritis or wear/tear. but if you got an xray then it is diagnosed and considered pre-existing so why would you want to xray before getting insurance? If it's not diagnosed then it's not pre-existing. So she waits the allotted time (for which she is not paying anything since it's all part of the policy) and then gets xrays at any point past the time.

HD is HD. It's not arthritis, it's not normal wear and tear on the joints, it's the formation of the hip socket that is going to be the same at 1 yr as 4 yrs as 6. The only thing that will change is wear on the bone and formation of arthritis. Jax was diagnosed with mild HD at 1. The only thing that has changed is arthritis forming.

If her dog has HD serious enough to warrant immediate attention then she would have already seen the problems.

So, my question to you is, why would you xray and take the chance on it being diagnosed prior to getting insurance? Then no insurance is going to cover it. What insurance out there covers a pre-diagnosed condition?

The short answer was for my own knowledge on the xray to see what may be coming since an exclusion applies. Its not all documented for the insurance company to see.

I will only give that answer off the record on the pre existing and not in public view.

I am curious to see how healthy paws rerates after each renewal year. I just redid mine today. Hard to get a clear view since they are new.

I hope to get some more input on them. I do like them from what I see. I also have a few minor issues, nothing major. I do not like the HD waiting period. I also do not like not being able to lower my deductible or co pay. That is minor since they have no maximums on payouts. Overall I like them. They are a very young company, so time will tell.

I get pmed a lot on companies and get asked every time based on today who I would choose.

I would still today get petplan over them.

07-29-2014 08:47 PM

Jax08

It could show the formation of arthritis or wear/tear. but if you got an xray then it is diagnosed and considered pre-existing so why would you want to xray before getting insurance? If it's not diagnosed then it's not pre-existing. So she waits the allotted time (for which she is not paying anything since it's all part of the policy) and then gets xrays at any point past the time.

HD is HD. It's not arthritis, it's not normal wear and tear on the joints, it's the formation of the hip socket that is going to be the same at 1 yr as 4 yrs as 6. The only thing that will change is wear on the bone and formation of arthritis. Jax was diagnosed with mild HD at 1. The only thing that has changed is arthritis forming.

If her dog has HD serious enough to warrant immediate attention then she would have already seen the problems.

So, my question to you is, why would you xray and take the chance on it being diagnosed prior to getting insurance? Then no insurance is going to cover it. What insurance out there covers a pre-diagnosed condition?

07-29-2014 08:06 PM

kr16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax08

There would be a 12 month waiting period anyways and you don't pay extra for hip coverage with Healthy Paws so it really doesn't matter. It's all part of the policy for the same price. so the dog is 4. She waits a year and xrays the hips, she's still within the 6 yr window. If she took the xray now and it shows HD, then NOTHING for HD is covered because it would be pre-existing.

Xrays are not my expertise but doesn't a hip xray show a possibility of a bad hip coming down the road? It would not be diagnosed as HD at the time.

If it did, you do not get this company. That can be misplaced as a record so you wouldn't have a pre existing condition. 12 months is a long time for something of that magnitude. I luckily have not dealt with the issue. I do know its expensive to get fixed.

This is not like human health insurance where you medical records get reported to the M.I.B. Its like your credit report its the medical information bureau. Amazing that's allowed to due to Hippa laws but it does.

Anyhow it is sometimes easy to hide a pre existing condition with pets.

07-29-2014 07:20 PM

Jax08

There would be a 12 month waiting period anyways and you don't pay extra for hip coverage with Healthy Paws so it really doesn't matter. It's all part of the policy for the same price. so the dog is 4. She waits a year and xrays the hips, she's still within the 6 yr window. If she took the xray now and it shows HD, then NOTHING for HD is covered because it would be pre-existing.

07-29-2014 06:04 PM

kr16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubermother

We just took our girl to the vet and he did a thorough exam. He wrote in BIG BOLD lettering that her hips and elbows are good. He said he'd be happy to do an x-ray if they want one but he said in his experience with Healthy Paws and PetPlan they take the touch exam as word. I'm going to get all her records and submit them for their review to see if they see anything that they consider a pre-existing condition. I decided on Healthy Paws.

Thanks again for all the great advice. This forum has really been helpful over the last 4 years.

The xray advice was for you to be sure about the hips, not the insurance company. You now have a 12 month HD waiting period on the hips.

The more people who sign up with this company the more feedback we can get. They are still a very new company.

07-29-2014 02:15 PM

Ubermother

We just took our girl to the vet and he did a thorough exam. He wrote in BIG BOLD lettering that her hips and elbows are good. He said he'd be happy to do an x-ray if they want one but he said in his experience with Healthy Paws and PetPlan they take the touch exam as word. I'm going to get all her records and submit them for their review to see if they see anything that they consider a pre-existing condition. I decided on Healthy Paws.

Thanks again for all the great advice. This forum has really been helpful over the last 4 years.

07-27-2014 10:09 PM

kr16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ubermother

Ok good. LOL! Good suggestion on her hips and elbows too. Thank you.

I would for real get the hips xrayed since this company has a 12 month HD waiting period. That to me is not good unless you are sure the hips are perfect, especially with a 4 year old. This wouldn't concern me with a puppy. Although I am sure we have some posters here who have had HD in a young dog.

07-27-2014 10:00 PM

Ubermother

Quote:

Originally Posted by kr16

The answer is always in the written policy so its yes and no lol. Its get one within 15 days of getting the policy or 12 months prior if the dog is under six. If its over six do not get this company since they will never cover HD.

I would get one before and cover the knees and hips in the examination and get it in writing they are all good.

This is from Healthy paws

5) LIMITATIONSa. A pet less than six (6) years of age on the date of enrollment must have undergone a complete
clinical examination. The exam must have taken place either in the twelve (12) months prior to the
pet policy effective date, or within fifteen (15) days following the pet policy effective date. A pet six
(6) years of age or greater on the date of enrollment must have undergone a complete clinical
examination within thirty (30) days prior to the pet policy effective date, or within fifteen (15) days
following the pet policy effective date. Your failure to submit your pet to a complete clinical
examination may void the policy. If the policy is voided, the policy premium will be refunded.
b. For pets six (6) years of age or greater on the date of enrollment, no coverage shall apply for illness
related to hip dysplasia.
c. For working pets, no coverage shall apply for any condition resulting from activities related to
racing, breeding, law enforcement, guarding or for any commercial use.

Ok good. LOL! Good suggestion on her hips and elbows too. Thank you.

07-27-2014 09:57 PM

Ubermother

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax08

If thye don't require an exam, I would buy the insurance, wait the required amount of time for the policy to take affect and then take them in.

FYI - no policy covers yearly exams or vaccinations. But if they should find a medical condition during the exam the meds and testing would be covered. HP does not cover office exam charges.

She's 4. They need to see an exam within 12 months prior to coverage or they require one within 30 days.

This thread has more than 10 replies.
Click here to review the whole thread.